# NTSB ANC18LA048: Cessna 180, N3125D, Fairbanks, AK, June 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2018, 17:30 local (Jun 23, 2018, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.192779, -147.946105 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.1928&lon=-147.9461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97569/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97569 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA048 ## Probable cause The failure of the brake line tube due to an improper flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related maintenance info (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was landing with a right crosswind, and after touchdown, as the airplane began to decelerate, he applied left brake to maintain directional control. He stated that the left brake pedal was "soft" and traveled to its full forward limit. The airplane weathervaned and skidded sideways before the left main wheel went off the landing area and into brush. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot noted in a postflight examination that the brake line had separated at the compression fitting near the brake caliper where the brake line transitioned from a rigid line to a flexible line. A laboratory examination of the brake line and its components revealed that the interior surface of the failed end had circumferential marks consistent with formation of a flared end with a flaring tool. The sleeve was trapped within the nut from the failed end, and deposits of gray metal appearing consistent with deformed brake tube material were observed deposited on internal threads of the nut. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 43-13-1B, "Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair," a double flare is used on soft aluminum tubing having a 3/8-inch outside diameter or less. No evidence of folded walls consistent with a double flare was noted at either end of the brake line tube. No records could be found that showed the manufacture or assembly date of the fractured brake line components. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2018, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna 180 airplane, N3125D, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing at Upper St George Creek, about 50 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules personal flight when the accident occurred. The private pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA), Fairbanks, Alaska about 1700. According to the pilot, he was landing with a right crosswind and after touchdown, as the airplane began to decelerate, he applied left brake in an effort to maintain directional control. He stated that the left rudder/brake pedal was "soft" and traveled to its full forward limit and directional control was lost. The airplane weathervaned into the wind and skidded sideways before the left main wheel went off the cleared landing area and into brush. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot found the brake line had separated at the compression fitting near the brake caliper where the brake line transitioned from a rigid line to a flexible line. The brake line tube and fitting hardware was removed from the airplane and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington DC for further evaluation. The interior surface of the failed end had circumferential marks up to 0.136 inch from the end consistent with the formation of a flared end with a flaring tool. The sleeve was trapped within the nut from the failed end, and deposits of gray metal appearing consistent with deformed brake tube material was observed deposited on internal threads of the nut up to 3 threads from the end of the sleeve. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 43-13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair, a double flare is used on soft aluminum tubing having a 3/8-inch outside diameter or less. No evidence of folded walls consistent with a double flare was noted at either end of the submitted brake line tube. No records could be located that showed the manufacture or assembly date of the fractured brake line components. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3125D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3125D), registered now, S/N 31923, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31923 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 3192.8 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2018, 11 hours before - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: AK7, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: AK7, Gold King Creek - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 181 total, 132 in this make and model, 145 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: PAFA, 37 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180622008449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180622008449A), Jun 22, 2018: Cessna 180, Gold King Creek, AK, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Landed on a 1000 foot dirt runway about 5 miles sw of Gold King Creek Alaska with 1 passenger on board. He said everything was going… ## Other investigations on N3125D (3) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC14CA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA021), Mar 27, 2014: Cessna 180 (N3125D), North Pole, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane while taxiing on a snow covered runway, which resulted in a collision with a terrain. - [NTSB ANC77DAA15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAA15), Apr 9, 1977: Cessna 180 (N3125D), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X1312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1312), Apr 14, 1964: Cessna 180 (N3125D), Concord, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97569. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory (item 2, .PDF, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.